Wrexham, Middlesbrough, Sam Smith and Phil Parkinson
4 November 2026
Wrexham defeated Championship leaders Middlesbrough 2-0 but confirmed striker Sam Smith will miss approximately nine months with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The 28-year-old requires surgery.
Smith sustained the injury during Wrexham’s previous defeat to Sheffield United and is scheduled for surgery next Wednesday. He had started all 13 league fixtures before the setback. George Thomason and Oli Rathbone scored late against Middlesbrough, securing a much-needed victory after two consecutive defeats.
Why It Matters
Wrexham gain an important result but lose a regular starting striker for the remainder of the season.